Sport
Kobe Bryant has surgery to repair ruptured Achilles tendon – facing long recovery
An injured Kobe Bryant. PHOTO/Mark J. Terrill/AP
The surgery to repair Kobe Bryant’s achilles tendon was successful, however, doctors have indicated that he may not be able to play for six to nine months.
Bryant had scored 34 points while playing much of the second half against the Warriors in pain with an injured left leg, and eventually his team, the Lakers held on to a 118-116 win over the Warriors on Friday night.
Bryant, has dealt with injuries in the past, but never one as serious and potentially career-ending as this one. “You need your Achilles’ tendon, muscle, tendon here, to allow you to walk,” said Dr. Robert Klapper, chief of orthopedic surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Group. However, with the athlete’s discipline and determination, though, Klatter said, it’s possible he could make a comeback.
Kobe Bryant is the NBA’s fourth all-time leading scorer, and he currently ranks among the top three in the NBA in scoring this season, averaging 27.3 points. This season, he has averaged 5.6 rebounds, a team-high 6.0 assists, 1.36 steals and 38.6 minutes in 78 games.